Search Results: NaturallyCurly

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

I didn’t really know I had wavy hair. I grew up in the 80’s, 90’s and so I permed my hair and made it as big as possible. Then later after perms lost their pizazz I did everything in my power to straighten it. Large round brush, paddle brush, flat ironing. I have thicker hair and so it was very damaging to my hair. My brother has beautiful curly locks and growing up I was always envious, not realizing I had the same texture hair as him, I just didn’t know how to style it.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

In 2020 as the pandemic started I got a cancer diagnosis. All hair coloring and maintenance went on the back burner. I quickly realized I had nice wavy hair and it was a deep brown. I had always colored it blonde. I had thyroid cancer and over the next year I lost a lot of my hair, it’s not near as thick as it once was. I stumbled upon the CG method [Curly Girl Method] and ran with it! It’s been fun to experiment and discover the potential of my waves.

 

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

When I started getting lots of compliments from people!! I was thrilled that embracing my al’ natural was attractive and appreciated. People started to ask for advice and what products I used. I have loved my results. I appreciate my color, texture and resilience of my hair and I strive for natural beauty, to grow gracefully and in gratitude of what my body can do.

How do you protect your curls at night?

Surprisingly my waves don’t get too crushed at night and are easy to revive in the morning. I’m in the process of growing my hair a little longer and will probably pineapple it on my head when it is long enough.

What is your Texture Type?

2B

Who is your curl crush?

I am new to the curly culture and so I am discovering new folks all the time. I love to look at anyone who has 2b, 2c waves and soak up all the info and tips I can.

 

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

I just recently discovered Pacifica pineapple curls shampoo and conditioner. It really helps my hair form into clumps. And I always use Alikay Naturals Lemongrass leave in conditioner and their Crème Brûlée curling delight curl cream. If I want more of a cast I end my product with Not your Mothers Curl Talk sculpting gel. I continue to look for new products to try. Oh and I can’t live without my diffuser!!

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

I wash and clarify 2x week. In between I cow ash with conditioner always upside down, combing my hair with a large tooth comb. While my hair is soaking wet I put in my leave in conditioner and squish and scrunch, then add curl cream, then gel….squishing and scrunching while it is super wet and upside down. Then I squish out excess water with a t-shirt, put myself upright and air dry about 15-20 min. Then I diffuse on low flow, medium heat, again upside down until it is about 90% dry. Air dry a little bit more, shake out my waves and set with whatever hairspray I have. I don’t see too many curly’s using hairspray but it really helps to keep my hair out of my face. I feel like I am a newby and still learning so much from everyone

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

I live in a dry windy climate, my cute morning waves sometimes are a mess by evening and get frizzy. And getting volume at my crown is a constant challenge. I’m still trying to figure that out.

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Changing my hair products to sulfate free, paraben free, silicone free. My hair feels so clean despite all the products I use. Also my large tooth comb I can’t live without! I never use a brush anymore.

 

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

Just embrace what life has given you. We are all beautiful in our own unique way. Stop wishing for someone else’s hair and just love your own for what it is. After getting through cancer I am so much more appreciative of my body and what it CAN do, and I seek natural beauty…at 47 I feel like I can just accept myself and love what God gave me, flaws and all. I have 2 adult daughters and I want to be an example to them of self love and acceptance. My oldest has hair just like mine and my baby has sleek straight hair. Both are beautiful!

What’s your hair story? Share your story with us here to be featured in our Texture Tales series.

Shop all your favorite products for curly, coily and wavy hair in one place: SHOPNaturallyCurly is back! Whether you’re looking for drugstore, salon or niche brands, stock up on your Holy Grails and discover new favorites reviewed by thousands of like-minded curly community members. 

Opening Weekend Sale

We’re so happy to be back and can’t wait to re-engage with our community in a whole new way! And to celebrate, we’re having a Memorial Day Sale with $15 off $50 or more, free domestic shipping on orders $50 or more through May 30. Use the code 20MEM22 at checkout to redeem your discount. Our opening weekend sale includes curly favorites like Soultanicals, Curls, tgin, Eden BodyWorks, Caniivy, KinkyCurly, and Curls Dynasty.

SHOPNaturallyCurly has been curating a curly selection of products like no other since 2004, when NaturallyCurly Co-Founders Michelle Breyer and Gretchen Heber were personally mailing products to curly community members across the country from Gretchen’s home. “For a lot of brands like Jessicurl, DevaCurl, and Miss Jessie’s we were the first place besides their own websites to sell their products” shares Michelle Breyer. Brands like AG and Jessicurl used NaturallyCurly’s forum, CurlTalk, to gain valuable insights from the curly community to develop new products that meet our needs. “I like to shop there because I can get products from so many different brands at once, get them shipped with one shipping cost, and get them all in a couple of days” says CurlTalk user gardencurls.

Add to Cart: Award-Winning Products

Need some Holy Grail recommendations to add to cart? Check out these Best of the Best Award-winning curl products, as voted on by the NaturallyCurly community:

1. Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle Spray

Refresh and moisturized your curls without weighing them down.

Voted Best Detangler for Type 3 Curls

2. Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Edge Gel

Give your edges the hold your style needs along with strengthening ingredients for hair growth.

Voted Best Edge Control for All Hair Types

3. Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter

So beloved it won multiple awards, pick up this Holy Grail butter to keep your twists and braids looking their best this summer. 

Voted Best Styler for Twists and Braids for All Hair Types, and Best Hair Butter for All Hair Types

4. ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor

This powerful at-home reparative treatment is a must-have for anyone with lightened, bleached or damaged hair. 

Voted Best Treatment for Type 4 Coils

5. The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam

Definition, shine, volume, touchable control – this has everything you could want in a styling product.

Voted Best Mousse for All Hair Types and Best Holy Grail Product for All Hair Types

6. Ecoco Ecostyler Professional Styling Gel with Olive Oil

Name a better curl product for less than $4, we’ll wait. 

Voted Best Hair Gel for All Hair Types

7. Cantu

Delivering all the bang for your buck, Cantu is your brand pick for Best Value. 

Voted Best Value Brand for All Hair Types

Read next: The 15 Best Styling Products, According to Naturals

8. SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

Tangle-melting, hair-softening moisture in a tub. Look no further for DEEP conditioning.

Voted Best Deep Conditioner for Type 3 Curls

9. As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner

This co-washing product has been winning NaturallyCurly awards for close to a decade. If you’re looking to cut down on shampoo, add this to cart. 

Voted Best Co-Wash/Cleansing Conditioner for All Hair Types

This product swept all Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4 awards for this category!

10. SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

This classic, multi-use curl cream by SheaMoisture wins beauty awards year after year for a reason.

Voted Best Styling Cream for All Hair Types

Check out SHOPNaturallyCurly to discover your next Holy Grail product!

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

Well originally I had stick straight hair. It was straight, it never held a curl, and it was boring. Then around 11 or 12 my hair started growing in frizzy and nasty. I hated it. I’d blow out my bangs and all my hair every morning so all my cowlicks and frizz was semi gone. I was obsessed with smoothing products and over washing my hair. I had no idea how to take care of it.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

When I was 14 I bleached all of my hair. It was yellow and nasty. The hair got so damaged it broke off. I kept washing my hair every day and it got dryer and dryer. This was when my acne got really bad too so I looked ridiculous. I cringe looking at photos of that ugly blonde hair. Then i realized my hair was kind of curly. I started letting it dry with a diffuser and a little bit of gel my mom had. My mom rarely wore her hair curly but she had some ouidad gel. Eventually I stopped shampooing everyday because my hair was so damaged I didn’t know what to do.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

I started the curly girl method but then learned that it wasn’t 100% what my hair needed. I think learning that you don’t need to be so strict with your hair is something important everyone needs to know. People always ask me if it’s my natural hair when they see my lovely wavy curls and it’s a lot better than asking me when I was going to straighten it again.

Read more: Why These Women Don’t Follow the Curly Girl Method

How do you protect your curls at night?

Silk pillowcase, silk bonnet, and if my hair is trashed from me sleeping (it generally is”> I’m not afraid to hop in the shower and restyle everyday.

What is your Texture Type?

2C

Who is your curl crush?

Manes by Mell 100%. She has taught me everything I know about my curls.

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

My prose custom shampoo and conditioner is absolutely amazing. Also my Sam Villa hairdryer and diffuser is awesome. And an honorable mention is this NaturallyCurly website.

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

• I use my Prose custom shampoo and conditioner each wash.
• If I need a gentler cleanse I use the As I Am Coconut Cowash and if I need to clarify I use the Malibu C un-do goo.
• For leave-ins I love SheaMoisture Straighten and Restore.
• Curl creams I use the DevaCurl Wave Maker.
• For gels I really like the DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel and the Kinky Curly Curling Custard.
• For mousse I love the SheaMoisture mousse and the Maui Moisture mousse.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

Comparing myself to others. I always wanted really curly hair but it took time to realize I don’t have 3C hair. My hair is unique and beautiful. I just wish I could’ve realized that sooner.

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

I love my Denman brush. It is amazing. It really helps those curls spring. Also if your hair is feeling messed up or lacking shine before adding protein add moisture. My hair has gotten terribly dry and it never got better until I used moisture. Your hair might not be damaged, it’s just thirsty.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

Keep trying! If you don’t succeed now, give yourself a month or two. Take pictures regularly or your progress and don’t be afraid to try out new products or techniques.

What’s your hair story? Share your story with us here to be featured in our Texture Tales series.

Picture the shampoo, conditioner, leave-ins, styling and finishing products you use on any given day. Depending on your hair care routine and on how many products you use in your routine, you could be going through close to 40 bottles each year (assuming three bottles each month”>. For Product Junkies, this number is likely to be even higher. That makes for a plethora of plastic packaging that you are disposing of every year.

Of course, both the size of the bottle as well as how much you use will determine how many bottles you use. That said, have you considered what your bottle usage may be doing to the environment? Is there an eco-friendly way to be a curly girl?

What is BPA in plastic?

Many plastic products – especially bottles – contain a chemical known as BPA (Bisphenol A”>. While this chemical helps harden plastic bottles, it’s also hazardous to humans. In fact, there’s a link between BPA and cancer, neurological problems, and even early puberty in girls. This chemical enters your body through contact with BPA-containing plastics.

What kind of plastic do hair products come in?

Many shampoo bottles are made from a plastic known as HDPE (high-density polyethylene”> plastic. This type of plastic is so safe that even eco-friendly companies recommend it for manufacturing baby bottles.

It’s standard practice for many curlies to research the ingredients in your curly hair products, especially with so many brands now putting front and center their choice to exclude certain ingredients from their formulas; likewise, it wouldn’t hurt to check out a brand’s stance on product packaging.

Is all plastic recyclable?

Not all plastic bottles are recyclable. Even though you may think to put it in your recycling bin, that doesn’t guarantee it won’t eventually end up in a landfill.

Not all plastic bottles are recyclable. Even though you may think to put it in your recycling bin, that doesn’t guarantee it won’t eventually end up in a landfill.

Know Your Numbers

All plastics display a number, which identifies the materials used in them as well as whether or not they’re recyclable.

To determine whether your product bottles come from HDPE plastic, look on the side or bottom of the bottle. If the bottle contains a number “2” surrounded by arrows in the form of a triangle and contains the letters HDPE, then it contains HDPE plastic. (The letters HDPE may or may not have arrows around them”>.

• #3, #6, and #7 are among the absolute worst; they also contain BPA.
• Bottles with #1 have small amounts of BPA that slowly releases itself over time.
• The best plastics have the number #2, #4, or #5 on them.

You will need to check the guidelines for your local area to see which plastic numbers they accept.

Where to recycle your product bottles

If you’ve determined that you’d like to recycle your product bottles, there are several options. In many neighborhoods, all you’ll need to do is place your materials in a recycling bin (that you keep”> and put them by the curb on trash pick-up days. If your neighborhood doesn’t do this, you can also bring your recycled materials to on-site locations. The site 1-800-Recycling.com was set up to help you find those on-site locations near you. Simply click the button titled “plastics” for product bottles, then select the type of plastic you have from the menu on the right. From there, you’ll just enter in your zip code or city, and the site will find you the nearest locations!

If you have a lot of stuff that you’d love to have hauled off, try 1-800-GOT-JUNK who will not only haul away large quantities of stuff but they’ll also do your recycling for you. They’ll come to your house and give you a quote as to what it’ll cost to remove everything, and then you’ll decide when you’d like them to come take it!

Rethink your product consumption

To be eco-conscious, you may need to re-think a few things. Do you really NEED that new bottle of shampoo that all the curlies rage about online? If you decide you must have it, what will you do with your other bottle? If you justified the new purchase because your other bottle is almost empty, where will the bottle go when you’re finished? Can you recycle it? If not, where will it end up going? Being aware of these considerations, and asking yourself these questions before each and every purchase, can help you make more environmentally friendly purchase decisions.

Repurpose your used products

Many curly girls are DIY-ers, so it’s a great idea to hold onto your used product bottles for your future concoctions. Be sure to rinse it thoroughly and cleanse with hot water, releasing any leftover product on the inside of the bottle, which could interfere with your new mixture.

Read next: 5 Hair Brands that Will Biodegrade When You’re Done With Them

Photo by @xcurlychaos

Most curlies and coilies love the versatility of their natural tresses. Sleek chignons, voluminous twist outs, and bold Bantu knots are just a few of the vast styling options that can be easily achieved on textured hair. Some curlies also like to wear it straight, but sporting this look can be detrimental if done too frequently or achieved improperly. Recently, NaturallyCurly community member priyankaa inquired about heat damage in our Q&A section.

Question:

I have severe heat damage, should I big chop or transition for a while ? I should also add that I am in college and where I go to school there isn’t and hair stylist near by. So I am left to deal with my hair myself.

 

 

Curlies love using custards, gelees, and creams on their hair – but did you know some use literal butters on their hair? As in the long-time food ingredient ghee? When it comes to taking good care of your hair, there’s a wealth of natural ingredients that have been reported to heal and strengthen strands for literally centuries! Plant based ingredients like mango, amla, and shea are well known in the curly community—especially when in a nice thick buttery form! As for ghee butter, no need to have a cow, we’ll tell you how to butter up your ‘do.

Before jumping on board with this hair care trend, there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, we’re 100% NOT talking about applying regular sticks you’d find in the dairy section to your hair! As you may have already been thinking, that kind of butter is very much susceptible to spoilage, and hardening up once it cools. If you like the company of flies, you’re all set with the regular stuff, but for those of us that aren’t feeling the buzz, the butter you do want to apply is called ghee.

What is Ghee?

This is a clarified version of butter, made by heating butter to its melting point and sifting the liquids from other normally tasty impurities, that is strictly composed of nothing but fat as opposed to baking style butter that contains milk solids and salt.

Where is Ghee from?

While the name Ghee originated in India, it’s mostly used there as a condiment and sacred offering in the Hindu faith. We get clarified butter as a curl treatment from a bit farther west in modern-day Ethiopia and the surrounding areas.

Why do people use ghee on their hair?

There’s a reason why this stuff has been in use for generations: the clarified butter is rich in vitamins A, E, and K, as well as straight up fat (naturally”> that seals moisture into the hair and shields it from exposure to damaging sun, sand, and wind—exactly the elements the Northeast African countries have in abundance.

What are the benefits of ghee for hair?

It can help calm a dry scalp without irritating it even more, and can also be used as an easily absorbed skin moisturizer for your really dry areas like elbows, hands, and feet. While it’s not something you’d want to drink straight (what’s good on your hair is not good in your arteries”> according to clinical nutritionist Dr. Josh Axe, “Ghee benefits the body both inside and out, and is actually used topically to treat burns and rashes as well as to moisturize the skin and scalp. Much like coconut oil, it’s a multi-use fat that is healthy in many ways.” Of course this is for MILD abraisions and dryness/friction related rashes only, but that’s not a half bad bonus!

Ghee is also reported to help hair growth, but the jury’s still out on that claim as far as clinical evidence goes. Still, since certain issues like a dry, unhealthy scalp can get in the way of hair growth, it’s possible that the connection is still there.

How do you use ghee butter on hair?

Ghee butter can be used the same way as any of your other favorite oils. You can apply it to tired strands and leave on for 30 minutes as a restorative hair mask, style your edges with it for a sleek look, and even use it as your go-to oil to seal hair under your daily moisturizer! The possibilities are endless!

If you’re a little reluctant to try full on cow-based conditioning, we recommend picking up ORS’ Hydrating Hair Butter. It blends ingredients like beeswax and sweet-smelling coumarin with the ghee to ease you into the idea a little more if you’re not udderly delighted by the prospect of straight butter in your hair!

What do you think curlies? Would you try ghee conditioning in your routine? Go on…we triple-dog dairy you.

This article has been updated for grammar and clarity.

Manes By Mell was YOUR favorite blogger of 2021 winning the NaturallyCurly Best of the Best awards for Type 2 Wavy Hair and for All Hair Types. Hit play on any video on her YouTube channel and it’s easy to see why. Mell is a curly hair stylist whose videos are as informative as they are entertaining, and watching her is sure to bring a smile to your face and a bounce to your curls.

If you’ve perused the NaturallyCurly Best of the Best winners list then you know it is long. There were 26 award categories and within each category are winners for Type 2, Type 3, Type 4 and All Hair Types. That’s a lot of awards. So to break it down for you, Mell reviewed as many of the products as she could on her one head of hair for all of us to benefit. Watch below to see how your favorite products worked on Mell’s curls on multiple wash days and refresh days, along with her full review.  

Watch Mell’s Review

You can find the full list of Best of the Best winners here. Find out who else won in the blogger category. And be sure to subscribe to Manes by Mell for more value-packed videos. 

About a year and half ago, I decided to start detangling on damp hair instead of soaking wet hair. When our strands are saturated in water, the hair shaft swells, making it weak and vulnerable to breakage. Since my 4a coils are fine in width, I know that even though wet detangling in the shower was easier, it is not the best approach to prevent breakage.

After parting my hair in six sections before removing tangles and shed hair at the sink, I reach for one of these five conditioners (daily conditioners and leave-in conditioners”> with slip that eliminate all friction between my strands for smooth application.

1. Brown Butter Beauty Sweet Milk Hair Detangling Leave in Conditioner

When in need of a leave-in detangler with strengthening properties, I reach for the Brown Butter Beauty Sweet Milk Detangling Leave in Conditioner. It has hydrolyzed wheat protein to help make the weak points along the hair shaft stronger for less breakage, and is also great for those who do not like overpowering fragrances. It spreads easily without excessive application.

2. Soultanicals Knot Sauce

Love dessert fragrances? Then the Soultanicals Knot Sauce is for you. This coil detangler is nourishing  and packed with oils, marshmallow root and slippery elm for slip, and aloe juice for its humectant properties. The flaxseed gel provides curl definition with light hold, making it a great primer for your styling product.

3. Trader’s Joes Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner

If you love essential oils, then check out the Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner. It is chock-full of oils, like tea tree oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, nettle oil, thyme oil, birch leaf oil, chamomile oil, yarrow oil, and horsetail oil. Although full of them, this conditioner is far from oily; it smells and feels great, and is capable of detangling a head full of tangled curls. This conditioner is a great alternative to the Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Conditioner, if you prefer silicone-free products.

4. Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Leave-in Treatment

The Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Leave-in Treatment not only provides great slip, but it also adds moisture. The surfactant behentrimonium methosulfate makes my tangles disappear, and the castor oil and shea butter leave my strands soft, without the need to refresh before my next wash day. It spreads easily, and a little goes a long way. This leave-in conditioner also pairs great with any styler, like the Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Set Styler and TreLuxe Curl Supreme.

5. SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Conditioner

The SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Conditioner has been my go-to detangler for the past year, and I am still on the same 13 oz. bottle, using 2-3 pumps per section. With coconut oil as the third ingredient, I feel confident about preventing hygral fatigue, and the stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, behentrimonium chloride give me endless slip with little product application necessary.

Read more: Do You Over-Moisturize Your Hair? Understanding Hygral Fatigue

What are your favorite detanglers? Share them with us in the comments below!

This article was originally published in 2016 and has been updated.

@bergittexworld curly cut by @curliqueyaraabdeen

While you probably make resolutions in other areas of your life, such as career or fitness, your hair might be one of those sections that gets overlooked at this time of year. But just like the other parts of your life, your curls deserve a dedicated list of goals to kick things into high gear.

These are the top ten Curly New Year’s resolutions to add to your ultimate plan.

1. Give up on “perfect hair”

While this may seem counterintuitive to making a list of hair goals, it’s actually the first step in the right direction. Too many naturalistas stress about their curls and how to make them better. While this is a great way to keep your tresses lovely, it can also lead to overly high and mostly unattainable expectations. Don’t let the chase for “perfect hair” derail your hair journey this year! The most important thing is to accept your hair for what it is and make it the best it can be in terms of health.

2. Schedule your trims in advance

Trims are a necessary evil. While they may seem like just one more pesky thing on your already full to-do list, they shouldn’t be swept to the side for more important tasks. Your hair is important, too! If you know you will need a trim about every three months, schedule those appointments in advance so you make them a priority and have one less thing to worry about on your to-do list.

3. Buy that one big hair care purchase you’ve been putting off

There are lots of products we tell ourselves we will buy eventually and keep putting it off until later. Maybe you want a better blow dryer or a flat iron with more settings. Maybe your old steamer broke and you’ve been putting off buying that replacement you know your curls deserve. Whatever that bigger ticket purchase is, just go ahead and get it out of the way at the beginning of the year.

4. Take the Big Chop

If you have been contemplating going natural for a while and the idea of the Big Chop makes you nervous, you are not alone. It can be a scary step, but it is a step in the right direction, and lots of naturals end up adjusting to the Big Chop eventually. Be bold and take that big leap this year!

5. Add one new accessory a month

A lot of curlies are intimidated by the idea of hair accessories. From head wraps and headbands to more elaborate additions such as beads in your braids, accessories can certainly dress up your strands with a little something extra. A good way to get over the fear of trying something new is to add one new piece a month to your collection and make that the look of the month. This is also just a lot of fun as a way to learn what options work best for you overall.

 

6. Coily? Embrace the ‘Fro

Some people are intimidated by the ‘fro. These people are misinformed! Maybe you think it’s too much work, or damaging in some way, or worse, you may even worry about the social reactions to this beautiful natural look. However, embracing your afro is a great way to gain not only a new sense of confidence in your texture, but also a new go-to style you might love!

And we need to make 2022 all about LOVE, wouldn’t you agree?

iStockphoto

7. Discover your curl type

Knowing you have curly hair means nothing without knowing where you fall on the curl spectrum. For instance, a naturalist with type 3a curls needs different care routines and products than a type 4c. The more you know about your curl pattern, texture, and the overall needs of your type, the easier it is to get gorgeous, healthy curls! We even have a quiz to help you out with this, so if nothing else, you can say you aced this resolution in under 10 minutes. Impressive!

8. Get a sleep routine in place

If you aren’t wrapping your curls at night, make this a top priority for the New Year. You should be applying your favorite oil to your hair and wrapping it in a silk scarf or bonnet overnight. This will cut down on friction, lock in moisture, and reduce tangles.

9. Connect with your fellow naturals

Trying to figure out your hair needs on your own can be a little lonely and confusing. When you connect with other naturals, you widen your scope of knowledge and make some new friends in the process! Whether this means joining a forum discussion, catching up with your favorite YouTuber, or simply starting the conversation with your neighbor about natural hair, it is great to have lots of channels (pun intended”> for information in your natural hair journey.

10. Make healthier choices for healthier hair

Finally, make sure you choose healthy New Year’s resolutions overall because the health of your body dictates a lot of what goes on with your strands. For example, if you are dehydrated, your curls are dehydrated. Whether you want to set a goal for daily water intake, consuming less sugar, or eating more lean protein, just remember that healthy hair starts on the inside.

What’s your New Year’s resolution this year?

 

You voted and the results are in: the NaturallyCurly community has named the Best of the Best award winners of 2021! Every year we wait with bated breath to learn which curl products are really working for your curls, coils and waves. Which cleansers cleansed (but not too much”>? Which gels had *just* the right hold? Which detangling tools could you not live without? Which brand is giving you the most bang for your buck? The NaturallyCurly community has opinions, and we love you for it.

Where else can you ask thousands of knowledgable curlfriends what their favorite curl products are?

Scroll on to find out which products won the 2021 Best of the Best awards for every type of product and every type of curl. And if you don’t know your curl type yet, take our Texture Type quiz to learn more about your curl pattern, porosity, density and width.

The Most Popular Curl Products of 2021

Best Shampoos

Best for All Curl Types

Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Cream Hair Bath

Wavy Type 2

Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Cream Hair Bath

Curly Type 3

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo

Coily Type 4

Melanin Haircare African Black Soap Shampoo

Best Co-Washes/Cleansing Conditioners

Best for All Curl Types

As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleaning Conditioner This product swept all Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4 awards for this category!

Best Conditioners

Best for All Curl Types

AG Hair Natural Boost Conditioner

Wavy Type 2

Innersense Organic Beauty Pure Inspiration Daily Conditioner

Curly Type 3

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl and Shine Conditioner

Coily Type 4

AG Hair Natural Boost Conditioner

Best Deep Conditioners

Best for All Curl Types

Mielle Organics Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner

Wavy Type 2

Mielle Organics Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner

Curly Type 3

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

Coily Type 4

Thank God It’s Natural (TGIN”> Honey Miracle Hair Mask

Best Leave-Ins

Best for All Curl Types

Kinky-Curly Knot Today

Wavy Type 2

Kinky-Curly Knot Today

Curly Type 3

Pattern Beauty Leave-in Conditioner

Coily Type 4

Mielle Organics Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Leave In

Best Mousse

Best for All Curl Types

The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam

Wavy Type 2

Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl-Boosting Mousse

Curly Type 3

Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Curl Activating Mousse

Coily Type 4

The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam

Best Styling Cream

Best for All Curl Types

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Wavy Type 2

Bounce Curl Clump & Define Cream

Curly Type 3

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Coily Type 4

Melanin Haircare Twist-Elongating Style Cream

Best Hair Gel

Best for All Curl Types

Ecoco Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel

Wavy Type 2

Raw Curls Firm Hold Gel

Curly Type 3

Ecoco Eco Styler Argan Oil Gel

Coily Type 4

Ecoco Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel

Best Hair Butter

Best for All Curl Types

Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter This product swept all Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4 awards for this category!

Best Edge Control

Best for All Curl Types

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Edge Gel

Wavy Type 2

Sunday II Sunday Edge Flourish

Curly Type 3

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Edge Gel

Coily Type 4

Creme of Nature Argain Oil Perfect Edges

Best Styler for Twists and Braids

Best for All Curl Types

Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter

Wavy Type 2

Not applicable

Curly Type 3

Ampro Shine’n Jam Conditioning Gel Extra Hold

Coily Type 4

Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Twisting Souffle

Best New Collection

Best for All Curl Types

Mielle Organics Mielle Rice Water & Aloe Collection

Wavy Type 2

Curlsmith Strength Recipes

Curly Type 3

Curlsmith Strength Recipes

Coily Type 4

Adwoa Beauty Blue Tansy Line

Best Hair Oil

Best for All Curl Types

Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend

Wavy Type 2

Righteous Roots Rx

Curly Type 3

OGX Beauty Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil

Coily Type 4

Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend

Best Scalp Treatment

Best for All Curl Types

Brigeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask

Wavy Type 2

Brigeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask

Curly Type 3

Sunday ll Sunday Soothe Me Daily Scalp Serum

Coily Type 4

Sulfur8 Scalp Therapy Soothing Treatment

Best Hair Growth Product

Best for All Curl Types

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil

Wavy Type 2

Bondi Boost Intensive Spray

Curly Type 3

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil

Coily Type 4

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil

Best Treatment

Best for All Curl Types

Olaplex No.3

Wavy Type 2

Olaplex No.3

Curly Type 3

Olaplex No.3

Coily Type 4

Aphogee Two-step Protein Treatment

Best Hair Spray

Best for All Curl Types

Got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Spray

Wavy Type 2

TRESemmé Tres Two Extra Hold Unscented Hair Spray for Frizz Control

Curly Type 3

Bounce Curl Hair Spray

Coily Type 4

Got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Spray

Best Heat Protectant

Best for All Curl Types

TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer This product swept all Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4 awards for this category!

Best Kids Line

Best for All Curl Types

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus This line swept all Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4 awards for this category!

Best Refresher

Best for All Curl Types

The Doux Fresh To Def

Wavy Type 2

Jessicurl Awe Inspiring Spray

Curly Type 3

Rizos Curls Refresh & Detangle spray

Coily Type 4

The Doux Fresh To Def

Best Volumizer

Best for All Curl Types

AG Hair Natural Cloud Airtight Volumizing Mousse

Wavy Type 2

Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Lift Volumizing Foam

Curly Type 3

AG Hair Natural Cloud Airtight Volumizing Mousse

Coily Type 4

Pattern Beauty Hair Pick

Best Tool/Accessory

Best for All Curl Types

Denman D3 Original Styler 7 Row

Wavy Type 2

Denman D3 Original Styler 7 Row

Curly Type 3

Brush with the Best Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush

Coily Type 4

Tangle Teezer Naturally Curly Detangling Brush for 3c-4c Hair

Best Value Brand

Best for All Curl Types

Cantu

Wavy Type 2

SheaMoisture

Curly Type 3

Cantu

Coily Type 4

Mielle

Best Blogger

Best for All Curl Types

ManesbyMell

Wavy Type 2

Manes By Mell

Curly Type 3

BiancaRenee

Coily Type 4

IamBlackGirlCurls

Most Innovative Product

Best for All Curl Types

Wear Your Curls CurlCase

Wavy Type 2

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

Curly Type 3

Wear Your Curls CurlCase

Coily Type 4

RevAir Hair Dryer

Best Holy Grail Products

Best for All Curl Types

The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam

Wavy Type 2

Kinky-Curly Curl Custard

Curly Type 3

The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam

Coily Type 4

SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave in

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

As a young girl, I always struggled with wearing my hair naturally. I could never find the right products that would actually work. On top of that, there was always this stigma around natural hair- that it was messy, an everyday look, but never elegant, chic, or classy.

In middle school I promised myself I’d change that and in college, I finally got the opportunity to start the business of my dreams, CURLē. A company that did more than offer haircare, but one that empowered curlies around the world to feel confident and elegant in their natural in ALL contexts with customized hair products for curls and coils.

I took one of my biggest insecurities growing up and decided to try my best to never allow anyone to feel the same insecurity I did- not knowing how to do my hair, and not feeling confident rocking my crown.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

For me, embracing my hair was more than just changing my hairstyle or not wearing braids anymore – it was embracing myself and my roots. In the tenth grade, I decided to transition to wearing my hair natural, teaching myself everything I could through YouTube, and then graduated to textbooks online – I really did read about curls for fun. And then when I started getting good at doing my hair, I started to teach the people around me, slowly becoming the curly hair expert that I am today.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

The most empowering moments of my natural hair journey have been moments when the people around me started to embrace natural hair. My favorite moment was when my little sister asked me to do her hair for the first time. I remember she used to hate curly hair, as a little girl she would always complain about how frizzy and ugly it was, that she wanted straight her, but then one day she asked me to do her hair and she’s been a dedicated curly ever since.

How do you protect your curls at night?

A must-have for my night routine is a silk or satin pillow and a silk or satin scrunchie to pineapple my curls. I like to use the CURLē satin scrunchie because it’s huge! If my hair’s not in a pineapple, I like a good bonnet or silk wrap to keep my curls popping longer

Who is your curl crush?

Elaine Welteroth is my absolute curl crush! She embodies pure elegance and beauty while embracing her curls and I loveeee to see it, especially on TV- represent!

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

Three things I absolutely cannot live without is a Denman brush, a scalp massager, and a great styling cream!!!

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

I like to keep my routine pretty simple so I make sure to deep condition once a week to maintain my hair health and then I just use a styling cream for my wash and go. I am absolutely in love with the CURLē deep conditioner and styling cream that I basically haven’t used anything else for the past two years.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

My most challenging moment was overcoming all of the internal biases that were so deeply ingrained into me by society. The thought that I could rock my hair elegantly at a business meeting or wedding or any fashionable event was always so difficult for me to really embrace. Sometimes I catch myself wanting to straighten my hair to get a more elegant look and I always have to check myself to really dig deeper and understand why it is that I used to feel more elegant in sleek hair than my beautiful curls.

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

One of the biggest things that I learned when researching hair was that there are so many products on the market, many of which are popular that contain cancer-causing agents. When I realized this, I started to really look into the ingredients of the products that I was using and understanding that not all products are made for my hair type, texture, and porosity and that was a huge game-changer on my hair health.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

My biggest advice to women who are struggling with loving their natural texture is to try new things and fantasize about your curls.

The beauty of natural hair is that not a single person on this planet has the same exact texture as you, it’s what makes you unique and beautifully you- embrace that and run with it!

Learn more about your curls and get products that are made for your hair porosity, type, and texture; enjoy the journey and appreciate progress.

AG, the brand that brought us Holy Grails like Re:Coil and Fast Food, has a new curl line and we’re so excited for you to try it. So much so that we’re actually giving you the chance to try the whole Curl Fresh line today!

What we love about AG Curl Fresh

This plant-based essentials set is made up of 98% plant-based and naturally-derived superfood ingredients, and contains up to 15 botanical extracts to help nourish hair. And if you’re someone who loves the scent of essential oils, then you’re going to be really into the fragrance of these products. 

What Bianca Renee thinks of Curl Fresh

One of our biggest long-time curl crushes Bianca Renee has been using the Curl Fresh collection on her curls and the Definer was a departure from her typical strong hold gels and styling products. 

After cleansing and conditioning with the Curl Fresh Gentle Ginger Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Curl Fresh Coconut Avocado Conditioner, she raked and scrunched the Curl Fresh Definer Silicone-Free Soft Hold Styling Cream from her roots to her ends and let it air dry. She was expecting the all-in-one Curl Fresh Definer cream styler may not give her the hold she typically gets from her gel products, but after trying it she was “very, very surprised.” “First of all,” she said, “look at the length retention I’m getting. It is keeping my curls stretched, and there’s hold!… I am getting a hold and a cast – and that’s what you need.”

“I’m very, very impressed. I love when a cream can give you gel-like results because you’re getting that moisture from the cream with the hold like a gel.”

After diffusing, Bianca Renee’s curls had even more volume while still feeling soft and shiny – and that is just her Day 1 hair. We know that on Day 2, Day 3 and beyond the volume will grow and she can use the Curl Fresh Definer styling cream to refresh “because it doesn’t get too hard or crunchy to where it’s hard to break the cast.” She is all about using just ONE product in her routine for the low maintenance naturals out there.

Giveaway

If your curls are in need of a refresh this season and you want to try the Curl Fresh collection for yourself, this is your chance! We’re giving away not just one, but five sets of the Curl Fresh collection to our NaturallyCurly community members.

The prize

5 lucky winners will each receive a set with the:

• Curl Fresh Shampoo
• Curl Fresh Conditioner
• Curl Fresh Definer

How to enter

1. Follow @aghair on Instagram

2. Comment right here, and tell us why your curls need a refresh.

3. Be sure to “like” NaturallyCurly on Facebook, so we can contact you if you’ve won!

This giveaway ends October 29 and is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

This giveaway is sponsored by AG.

Sometimes your waves need a little extra help after a wash day.

If your loose curls lose their bounce after you’re done cleansing and conditioning, you’re not alone! But for every curl problem, there’s a curl solution, and this one’s as simple as an old t-shirt.

No, we don’t mean DIYing something cute out of your “vintage” shirts to distract from your deflated hair (although, that’s not the worst idea…”>. We’re talking plopping. Basically, it’s wrapping your freshly cleansed hair in a t-shirt before bed in order to wake up with a head full of clearly defined curls with locked in moisture. It doesn’t have to just be a bedtime routine either. Depending on your texture, you might be able to make this work for drying and defining your hair in just a few hours! This is how you do it.

How to plop curly hair

1. Get the excess out

You want to plop freshly washed and detangled hair. However, you don’t want to plop with sopping wet hair or hair that’s already mostly dry, so find the middle ground. Use a different t-shirt to squeeze out extra water to get the right level of dampness—no dripping, but still wet to the touch. Alternatively, try a product like the Aquis Microfiber Towel to stop those droplets extra fast.

2. Style

This is where you put yourself to work!

T-shirts do a lot, but they’re not going to style your hair for you. Grab your styler and get to it. While you don’t want to get your hair wet again, or overload it with product, you do want to make sure that you’re giving your hair a good amount of hold. If you need to re-wet your hair during this process, grab a good spray bottle, and fill it with a mixture of water, and a creamy leave-in to get the same ingredient combo you like without the weight!

3. Wrap it up

Take an old cotton t-shirt and lay it flat on the bed or any flat surface with the sleeves at the top. Many curlies have found that long-sleeve shirts work best because you have more material to tie your knot with. Hang your head upside down and gently lower your curls onto the center of the t-shirt. Once all your hair is on the center of the shirt, begin rolling the bottom of it up towards your forehead while bringing the back to the nape of your neck. Tie the two ends at the nape of your neck into a knot to secure the shirt.

If your t-shirt isn’t long enough to secure the ends at the nape of your neck, you can also tuck them in during the next step.

Bring the top of the t-shirt towards your head while making sure your curls are all still at the center. Bring the arms down around the nape of your neck, covering the bottom of the t-shirt with the top of the t-shirt. Stand upright and bring the arms together to tie a knot that will secure the shirt in place, then tuck in any loose corners. From there, it’s just a matter of waiting until your hair is dry to see the high-def results!

So what makes plopping different from other drying methods?

Think of it kind of like making a pot roast on your head—the whole secret is letting your hair cook/dry slooooooooowly. Your hair’s not free to frizz as it pleases when you air dry it, and you’re not using any potentially curl disruptive heat! Bonus: cotton t-shirts are that happy medium between regular terrycloth and silk—absorbent enough to actually get your hair dry, while smooth enough to not cause breakage to damp hair.

Will this tip have you raiding your closet, curlies? Let us see your results!

This article has been updated.

Our Leaders In Curl interview series aims to highlight the people and brands who are redefining the hair industry. Today we’re speaking about entrepreneurship and change-making with Lotte Davis, the Co-Founder of AG, a brand that many curlies are familiar with thanks to Holy Grail products like Re:Coil and their new plant-based line Curl Fresh. Following the success of AG, Davis founded the charitable organization One Girl Can to fight gender inequality through education and mentorship. NaturallyCurly got an inside look at the unique approach One Girl Can is taking to create sustainable and long-lasting change for girls and women in the communities they serve.

How does the success of AG feed into One Girl Can? 

Davis: “It’s really a very symbiotic relationship and has been from the beginning. For the first seven years, One Girl Can couldn’t afford any employees, but the team at AG was very enthusiastic about supporting us off the side of their desks. Marketing designed our logo, our website, and all of the promotional materials we needed to present a professional outward facing image. IT developed the website, finance created and maintained an accounting structure, and eventually our People & Culture helped us when we needed to start building our own team. That’s when AG started to provide us with pro bono office space in perpetuity. AG was also our biggest donor. Initially we developed promotional packages with the students we supported on the boxes, and we donated all of the proceeds to help build schools and provide scholarships. Later this morphed into Every Bottle Counts, where a portion of AG sales went back to the charity. 

“All of this created a unique point of difference for One Girl Can. Because of AG’s contributions in cash, administrative support, and free rent, we had low expenses and were able to apply 100% of our donations received directly to the programs in Kenya and Uganda. AG also benefitted in ways we hadn’t anticipated. The decision to use AG profits for the purpose of expediting gender inequality was organic and wholeheartedly adopted and embraced by our internal teams, our distributors, and our salons. The amount of goodwill, brand exposure, employee engagement, and consumer loyalty we received by simply doing what felt good, and made sense to us, was overwhelming and took us completely by surprise.”

Can you tell us about your holistic approach to helping girls and women through One Girl Can? 

Davis: “Our model evolved and continues to be informed by the young women we serve in Kenya, with the intention to be personal and provide measurable results for each girl. We visit each partnering school twice a year, and we meet with our scholarship students one on one, monitor their grades, provide mentoring, and conduct customized workshops for students in the school at each grade level. Today, we partner with 11 schools and all students from those schools are eligible to apply for a university scholarship; we offer between 60 to 80 full scholarships a year. Students who are selected will continue to be coached and mentored at an annual conference in Nairobi. We also offer supplemental training for each student to further enhance and ensure she finds work quickly after finishing her degree. This can range from professional courses in IT, e-Commerce, to in-depth entrepreneurial training, as well as internship training and placement. We literally don’t let go of our students from the time we meet them in Grade 9 until they start earning an income in a career of their choosing. That’s pretty unique in our industry and it ensures we don’t just pay for her education, we try to set her up to become a leader, so that one girl can pay-it-forward for other young women in her community.”

That’s pretty unique in our industry and it ensures we don’t just pay for her education, we try to set her up to become a leader, so that one girl can pay-it-forward for other young women in her community.

How does building One Girl Can compare to founding AG back in 1989?

Davis: “It’s uncanny how similar it was for me and continues to be. I was terrified about starting a not-for-profit in Africa – I had no experience in this field whatsoever. But I quickly learned that there’s no difference between this and building a for-profit business. In order for any company to be successful you need to make sure you have a unique model that fills a significant demand in the market. One Girl Can did that in spades. We measure our impact against gender inequality, by the number of bright young women that we’re able to support to become financially independent. 

“We developed clear KPI’s and hired the best people to execute on these. And like any entrepreneurial business, we confronted the roadblocks to our success every day and relentlessly applied ourselves to creating solutions.”

As a mother of daughters, a leader in the beauty industry, and the founder of a charitable organization, what legacy are you hoping to leave behind?

Davis: “I want to ensure that One Girl Can lives on and that other women take ownership of something that I merely started, and use their skills and networks to build it into a global entity. 

“Many charitable organizations are looking for scale, trying to impact as many people as possible to create change quickly, but I believe our model is far more sustainable and can have a more profound impact on gender inequality. We aren’t just providing a pathway to jobs, we are equipping the individual with skills over the course of many years. We do this by instilling young women with confidence through a framework of personal and structural support. This is what is needed to start changing and balancing the gender gap in business and help bring an end to poverty in disadvantaged countries. One Girl Can’s legacy will be that personal investment each of us makes in one girl until she’s able to stand alone, lead, and begin investing in another girl herself.”

Next week will be International Day of the Girl, how do you plan to celebrate? 

Davis: “One Girl Can is launching a proactive social campaign in partnership with Go Goat Sports to commemorate International Day of the Girl on October 11 to bring attention to the urgent gender inequalities that happen globally. Go Goat Sports is a digital podcast company, who advocate for female participation, representation, and parity in sports. Our goal is to urge people to take action, fight for gender equality and human rights, and showcase how they can help to make a real change in their community and beyond.

“In the weeks leading up to October 11, together, we will launch a global call-to-action through an interactive social media campaign, where people are encouraged to share how they are #HereForHerFuture on their social channels. Go Goat Sports will donate $1 for every post using #HereForHerFuture with all funds going directly to supporting university scholarships for girls.

“We have also partnered with local Vancouver brand, Gentle Fawn, who designed a limited edition exclusive Gentle Fawn x One Girl Can Day of the Girl scarf with partial proceeds donated to support scholarships for university students. The scarf is available online beginning October 11.”

This article is sponsored by AG. 

Nicole Gomez is a curl specialist and the owner of the salon Curls Amoré Studio in Orlando, Florida. 

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

Growing up in a small town in Florida a lot of my classmates and friends had straight hair. I never really understood what products to use or how to maintain them. I was made fun of for my hair looking too “puffy.”

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

Five years into being a hairstylist I remember getting clients with curly hair and having no idea how to cut or style. At the time I wasn’t embracing my curls. I went through a phase where I cut my hair into a pixie cut. As that grew out I started seeing my natural hair again. Mind you I’ve been straightening my hair since middle school because it was easy . As my curls grew out I was more interested in learning about them and teaching my clients as well.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

The most empowering moment was being able to walk around in my most authentic self. Staying true to who you are and embracing what you were given.

What is your curl pattern?

Type 3a

How do you protect your curls at night?

At night my favorite thing to use is a buff. My hair is well protected and makes refreshing days a breeze.

Who is your curl crush?

@faithincurls Jarely.. She has the most beautiful curls and really inspired me to start this journey with my hair.

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

My hair pick! I love volume! Everywhere I go it comes with me.

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

Innersence organic has been my go to lately. Quite calm curl control and I create volume.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

All the phases of the big Chop, Learning what products works best for me, and  how to get a good technique down. It was constant trial and error.

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Doing more deep conditioning treatments. With having colored hair it makes a differently to keep your hair hydrated as much as possible.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

Trust the process and embrace the journey. The best feeling is being 100% yourself.

You can follow Nicole at @curlsamore on Instagram.

Photo by Robert Gomez on Unsplash

More and more naturalistas are saying goodbye to harsh shampoos and adopting no-poo routines. With the use of just their favorite conditioner, they have combined the steps of cleansing and conditioning in one to remove the harsh additives found in most store-bought cleansers. Some people are taking this one step further by omitting all products and simply using water only.

Is less more when it comes to cleansing your natural hair?

Here’s why it could be

The reasoning behind this is that your scalp needs the natural oils, called sebum, it produces for the health of both your scalp and strands. Shampoos strip these natural oils from the scalp. Sebum is actually the scalp’s way of providing all the moisture your hair could ever need. Aside from the sebum, water is the most basic form of hydration for hair. Even store bought moisturizers and conditioners aren’t as effective as your own natural sebum or pure water at restoring the moisture in strands. Between the naturally moisturizing properties of water and the need for more evenly distributed natural oils, the idea of a water only routine makes sense.

Can you wash natural hair with just water?

The simple answer is yes, you can choose the water only routine with any hair texture or hair type. However, all water is not created equal, if you have hard water in the area where you live (water that’s high in mineral content”> then that is going to have an effect on your hair. You can learn more about hard water and your hair here. Even if you do live in an area with hard water coming out of your tap, there are a few great benefits for natural hair that takes on a water only routine. 

The benefits of water-only washing

Sebum decreases

Over time, hair becomes more accustomed to a water-only cleanse, so your natural sebum and hair oils will decrease overtime if you are consistent with a water only routine. Meaning your hair will be less greasy in between wash days.

Less drying

Water is also more moisturizing than most shampoos, so that dry brittle feeling you may have experienced after shampooing is less likely to happen with a water only cleanse.

Natural oils travel further

Another benefit is that the natural oils and sebum will be able to travel easily down the shaft of strands, because the shampoo residue will not be there, and that is it’s natural path without interference. This leaves your hair with a nice and natural gloss.

Resist breakage

If you are in an area with softer water, rather than hard water (you can check here”> your hair will able to resist breakage better while combing or detangling, since shampoo will not have stripped the natural oils prior.

Longer gaps between conditioning

You may be able to go longer without conditioning after transitioning to a water only cleansing method, since the natural sebum isn’t being stripped by the ingredients in shampoos.

Will my hair get greasy or oily?

Going to a water only regimen will be a journey. The initial phases of  not using any products will feel uncomfortable, but the growing pains will eventually go away.

The sebum will make your hair feel greasy to the point of possible embarrassment after a few days or a week, depending on your production. While you may be tempted to throw in the towel just know that your hair doesn’t look as oily as it may feel to you.

Like any other hair care routine, there are keys to successfully making this one work for you. If you find that adopting a water only habit doesn’t work for your curls, there is certainly no shame in going back to what your hair is used to. 

How to decrease oiliness

If the oil production gets to be too much for you, you can always use a natural solution, such as apple cider vinegar, to gently and naturally cleanse away some sebum without over-drying or stripping it completely.

If you do experience oiliness, don’t overdo it with the water. While you may be tempted to rinse hair longer under warm water to try to break up some of the natural oils, you should resist this urge. The goal is to let your scalp do what it does naturally without interfering too much.

Have you tried the “water washing method? If, so how was your transition to a no-poo routine? Share in the comments!

As a curly girl, you may already be fluent in the language of product labels. Early in our curly journeys we start to learn the scientific names of a whole range of obscure additives, but you may be surprised to learn of this common ingredient: salt.

Otherwise known as sodium chloride, common table salt is actually added to many shampoos as a cost saving thickening agent. To shed some light on this practice we spoke with AG’s Co-Founder John Davis, who leads the brand’s product formulations. When he founded AG as a hair stylist with his wife in 1989, Davis saw firsthand how many bags of salt were being poured into third-party manufactured products, and decided he wanted to experiment and manufacture his own salt-free alternatives.

Davis explained that while we all love the feel of a thick, rich shampoo, it is an expensive texture to produce from a manufacturer’s standpoint. “There is a trick,” says Davis, “you can add salt, or sodium chloride, to a water-thin product and make it nice and thick. This is very common in drugstore shampoos and far more common in other shampoos than you might think.”

How does sodium chloride affect hair, and specifically textured hair?

“Moisture in the hair is important as it helps keep hair healthy and improves tensile strength (the ability of the hair to stretch without breakage”>. Anything that removes or reduces the amount of moisture in the hair is potentially damaging and this is particularly true with curly hair. Sodium chloride can reduce levels of moisture in the hair leaving it feeling dry and brittle, and therefore much more prone to damage through combing, brushing etc. This affects all hair types of course, but particularly curly hair, which may be particularly prone to damage through moisture loss. Hair looks and feels best when it is properly conditioned and moisturized. That’s why all AG shampoos are formulated without added sodium chloride to minimize moisture loss in the hair. Sodium chloride has no benefit other than cost savings to the manufacturer.”

Is sodium chloride typically found in shampoos that have sodium lauryl sulfate (an ingredient curlies often watch out for”>?

“Shampoos containing sodium lauryl and sodium laureth sulfate are more common and more cost effective than sulfate-free shampoos, and they often are thickened with sodium chloride. It’s not a guarantee when purchasing sulfate-free shampoos that it’s not thickened with sodium chloride. We recommend reading the label when purchasing any shampoo to care for your hair.”

You’re launching a new line, Curl Fresh, and in addition to excluding sodium chloride you also chose to leave out other thickening agents like MEA/TEA, and dispersing agents like propylene glycol. What ingredients did AG choose to use instead and why?

“Cocamide MEA helps provide viscosity (thickness”> to certain shampoos when combined with sodium chloride and TEA is used to adjust the pH of personal care products, while butylene and propylene glycols are generally used as moisturizing agents. In terms of viscosity build in our shampoos, firstly we use less water, so our products are naturally thicker, and we also use a naturally derived xantham gum for additional viscosity and product stability. Depending on the product, we use differing ingredients to achieve moisture, but propanediol is one example among many. While we do not use propylene glycol in AG products we may use butylene glycol, which is considered a safe ingredient in cosmetics, for its moisturizing benefits and has a score of 1 (negligible”> on the EWG (Environmental Working Group”> toxicity scale.”

“Our Plant-Based Essentials line started with our continuing search for improvement looking for naturally sourced ingredients that are milder and gentler on the hair. We started with a shampoo and conditioner, Balance and Boost, which contains over 98% plant-based and naturally-derived ingredients. Based on the success of those two products we expanded the line considerably over the last few years and a move towards plant-based curl products was simply the next step in this collection’s growth. A few years ago we developed one of our best selling products for curly hair, Re:Coil, with feedback and input from the Curlies in NaturallyCurly’s CurlTalk forum, so it is particularly exciting for us to have you be the first to test and try our newest plant-based curl collection and get your honest and important feedback.”

As a NaturallyCurly reader you may be familiar with Re:Coil, because not only was it formulated based on reader input, but it was also the first product ever sold in our e-commerce shop, back when it was called CurlMart and was run out of NaturallyCurly Co-Founder Gretchen Heber’s garage. We know how you feel about Holy Grails Re:Coil and Fast Food, and now we’re excited to hear what you think about the new Curl Fresh line. You can find out more about the Curl Fresh Shampoo, Conditioner, and Definer at aghair.com.

Now that you’re well versed in sodium chloride, take a look at a few of the shampoo labels next time you’re at the drugstore. You may be surprised how often you find salt.

This post is sponsored by AG.

The curly community has always been savvy when it comes to purchase decisions. We know how to read labels, the ingredients to watch out for, and the common and not-so-common names for them. This consumer savvy holds true when it comes to the brands behind our products as well. We want to know who is profiting from our purchases, what their sustainability policies are, and what they’re doing for the communities they serve. Now more than ever, this transparency matters to the NaturallyCurly community. 

Our Leaders In Curl interview series aims to highlight the people and brands who are redefining the hair industry. That’s why we are thrilled to be speaking with Lanaia Edwards, the VP of Global Marketing for Alaffia. Alaffia recently launched their Beautiful Curls line and part of the proceeds are funding their Beautiful Arrival maternal care initiative. Social impact has been woven into the Alaffia brand from its inception in 1996, and we got an inside look at how that approach continues to drive the brand today.

Lanaia Edwards, Alaffia’s VP of Global Marketing

More than ever before, our community wants to know who is behind the brands they purchase their curly hair products from. Can you tell us about Alaffia’s founder and who owns Alaffia?

Edwards: “Our Founder & CEO Olowo-n’djo Tchala’s journey is quite extraordinary and inspiring! He grew up in Togo, West Africa, sharing a small room with his mother and seven siblings. After dropping out of school in sixth grade to help support his family through farming and collecting shea nuts, he witnessed the unfair systems that the women around him faced when trading valuable indigenous resources. After completing his GED and college degree stateside, he returned to Togo to put projects in place to create a more sustainable and equitable future for communities throughout the country. 

“Olowo-n’djo founded Alaffia with Prairie Rose Hyde in 2003. He met Rose in his home village of Kaboli, Togo in 1996 where she was invited to serve as an environmental volunteer in the Peace Corp. From the beginning, the two shared a desire to positively impact humankind. They returned to the US determined to make a difference in West Africa. In 2004, armed with his understanding of the value of indigenous West African resources and an understanding of sustainable business ideologies, he launched Alaffia’s first collective.

“Since the Alaffia cooperative was founded, Olowo-n’djo’s mother, Ina, the inspiration for Alaffia, guided him in how to manage a women-led organization in a traditional setting. Ina helped him understand the importance of our cultural heritage, and it is this heritage that Alaffia preserves with traditional recipes and methods as well as handcrafting indigenous ingredients. She also made sure that the Alaffia Village Cooperative was inclusive to all of Togo’s 42 different ethnic groups. Ina embodied a selfless existence that guides me as we continue our mission to alleviate poverty and gender inequality.”

How does your team measure success at Alaffia? It seems to go far beyond the sales of beauty products. 

Edwards: “It’s all about people before profits. When Alaffia was founded 18 years ago, the decision was made to always measure success based on our social impact, not dollars. As time was of the essence, empowerment projects were created that provided immediate impact to help people work, attend school and receive health care. We continue to see the positive impact on the West African people, which has been made possible through the support of our amazing Alaffia community and partners.”

Can you share more about the Maternal Care Empowerment Project?

Edwards: “Supporting motherhood and family is a core value of ours. Unfortunately, there’s a dire need for maternal care for women of color in marginalized communities. If we give more women access to proper prenatal care, fewer children grow up as orphans. Uplifting women is key to alleviating generational poverty. By gaining knowledge the women gain a feeling of self-worth. This lifts up the next generation and gives them a chance to progress beyond those before them. The project assists in all aspects of maternal care services and education, from pre-natal to post-pregnancy care. Since 2006, Alaffia has helped fund safe births in Togo, West Africa, and to date has helped over 6,500 women.”

How does the sale of products like the new Beautiful Curls line impact Alaffia’s Empowerment Projects, specifically Beautiful Arrival?

Edwards: “Our Alaffia Empowerment Projects are what keep us going! These projects are our mission in action, funded by the sale of our products. This allows Togolese communities to provide their skills and knowledge to the rest of the world and rise out of poverty. Our drive is to empower West African women to support themselves and their families in sustainable ways while advancing gender equality. Facilitating access to the global trade market through the fair trade of indigenous resources and community empowerment projects is a successful way of achieving this.

“Our empowerment projects in West Africa have positively impacted the lives of tens of thousands of people through Maternal Health, Eyeglass Distribution, Reforestation, Regenerative Agriculture and Education (including building schools, providing school supplies, bicycles for students”>.

“We expanded our maternal care stateside given the need for access in so many communities. According to the CDC, the maternal death rate in the US for black women is more than double that of white women. For Hispanic women in the US, it is more than 3X. Even in states with the lowest pregnancy mortality rate ratio and among women with higher levels of education, significant differences persist. Factors leading to mortality rates are usually a combination of institutional racism as well as black women’s increased susceptibility to certain health conditions and lack of access.

“5% of Beautiful Curls purchases are donated to Beautiful Arrival, our new project that helps provide maternal care to women in marginalized communities in the U.S. Alaffia and Beautiful Arrival are partnering with SisterSong, an Atlanta-based national organization that works to improve institutional policies and systems that positively impact maternal health care for women of color.”

What are your goals for Beautiful Arrival and your new partnership with SisterSong?

Edwards: “Our goal is ensure that all women receive access to services and support for safe and healthy birth throughout all aspects of her pregnancy and birth. SisterSong’s advocacy and leadership are instrumental in facilitating awareness and resources.”

We love featuring the Leaders in Curl who are shaping the hair care industry! At NaturallyCurly we’ve been working to redefine this space through education and empowerment for women with textured hair. How do you see Alaffia redefining the hair care industry?

Edwards: “Alaffia is redefining the industry by showing that a social enterprise model works. We’re built on the philosophy of ‘going beyond fair trade’—paying a fair local price or wage, offering equal employment opportunities, engaging in environmentally sustainable practices, providing healthy and safe working conditions, being open to public accountability and reducing the number of middlemen from supplier to consumer.

“We handcraft indigenous raw materials in traditional ways at our Alaffia Village Co-op to preserve culture and assure the efficacy of the ingredients, such as unrefined shea butter, coconut oil, neem extract, baobab oil and African black soap. Products are then finished at our U.S. headquarters in Olympia, WA. Proceeds from the sale of our collections are returned to communities to fund community empowerment and gender equality projects. 

“We’re so proud of our Beautiful Curls Collection which is super luxurious and high-performance, without all the synthetic ingredients. It’s formulated to work well for all types of waves, curls and coils from type 2 hair to 4c hair, as well as for all styles. Beautiful Curls products don’t contain sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance and artificial colors. The collection is cruelty-free and plant-based. Each product is formulated with aqueous extracts, which makes even the water efficacious and beneficial to hair and scalp. Using Alaffia’s reverse osmosis water system, purified water is infused with botanicals such as yarrow, comfrey, arnica, calendula and chamomile.”

As a Leader in Curl, do you have any advice for brands and entrepreneurs who are just getting their start who want to build social impact into their business model?

Edwards: “Assess and answer the call on how you can strengthen your community through employment opportunities and programs that ‘prime the pump.’ When you invest back into your community through providing opportunities that help people work and have better access to important resources, you’re lifting up an entire community. You can be the catalyst for great change.”

This post is sponsored by Alaffia.